Page 17 - JM Book 9/2020

Congress and some colonies had already taken the first steps toward independence.
• On April 12, the North Carolina Fourth Provincial Congress passed the Halifax Resolves, which were the first instructions by any colony to authorize its delegates to the Second Continental Congress to vote for independence from the British government.
• On May 4, Rhode Island became the first colony to declare its independence from Great Britain.
• On May 10, the Second Continental Congress passed a resolution that recommended that each colony write a constitution to establish a new government.
• Two colonies followed the congressional recommendation and adopted a constitution and an independent government – Virginia on June 20 and New Jersey on July 2.
• New Hampshire on January 5 and South Carolina on April 12 were the first colonies to both declare independence and adopt a constitution.
• By the end of 1776, five more colonies – Connecticut, Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania and North Carolina – would establish independent governments.
All of these actions were in addition to the Virginia Convention’s adoption of the Virginia Resolution on May 15, that if approved by the Second Continental Congress, would declare independence for all thirteen American colonies.
These thoughts went through Jefferson’s mind and he began to realize the importance of the declaration he had been asked to write. He knew it would be a difficult task. He would have to use all the knowledge and skills he possessed to draft a statement that would explain the common sense reasons why the colonies had no other choice but to gain independence from Great Britain.
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